Process for metal working



March 18, 1958 s Es 2,826,811

PROCESS FOR METAL WORKING Filed May 2, 1955 V idly/I 11 F1 1 I A7 2,826,811 PROCESS FOR METAL WORKING Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,299 3 Claims. (Cl. 29-553) This invention relates to the working of metals and is more particularly concerned with the method of patterning or embossing the surface of soft metals, such as copper, silver, aluminum and the like.

In the past, in embossing soft metals it has been the general practice to form the design or figure in the metal by hammer or other instrument by which the metal is embossed to provide a three dimensional effect. In industry, embossing on soft metals is done in large presses where the metal is pressed into the desired shape. However, the use of large metal presses is not practical for the average person desiring to work in metal to produce metal plaques, etc., and the work accomplished by such methods does not have the desired hand-made look.

The present invention comprises a method for impressing of designs or ornamentations upon soft metal, by hand operation, which can be accomplished quickly, easily, and without any great method of this invention, attractive metal plaques having pleasing regular designs and ornamentations, may be made by amateurs and untrained persons, but still maintaining the hand-made appearance.

The objects will be more fully appreciated from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view in section showing a metal plate resting upon a pattern.

Figure 2 is a side view in in Figure I pressed into the female pattern to design.

Figure 3 is a side view in section of the metal plate of Figure 2, reversed and resting upon the male pattern.

In carrying out the invention, a plate 10 of soft metal, such as copper, brass, silver or aluminum, preferably of thin texture is employed. For illustration, we have used a sheet of copper having a thickness of .003 inch. The plate 10 is placed over a pattern 11 which may be of any suitable material such as metal, plastic or wood. The pattern 11, is provided with a female matrix with the design in concave. The same pattern 11 may be provided with a male matrix 13 on its reverse side, or the ,male matrix may be on another pattern, without changing the method of this invention. However, for convenience, the pattern 11 has a female matrix 12 on its upper side and the male matrix 13 on its lower side. The male matrix is reduced overall by .003 inch, the exact thickness of the metal plate 10 employed.

The plate 10 is placed over the female matrix 12 so that the outer edges 14 of the plate extend beyond the edges of the pattern for a distance of approximately one-half /2) inch. The outer edges of the plate are then folded over and tucked under the edges of the plate as shown in Figure 2, so that the plate is held firmly in position above the female matrix 12. The plate 10 is then worked into the concave portions of the female matrix by a blunt tool 15 having a rounded and soft end 16 as shown in Figure 2.

section of the metal plate form a skill or training. By the (United States Patent 71cc assignor to Patented Mar. 18, 1958 Having worked the plate 10 roughly into the contours of the female matrix 12, the plate is worked into the details of said matrix by means of a pointed instrument 17, such as a pointed wood or plastic tool, .which will.n0t scratch the surface of the plate. With this tool all details of the design on the matrix are then worked to form an exact replica of the design of the matrix.

We then remove the copper plate 10 from the female matrix 12 and reverse the plate and the matrix so that the concave design in the plate rests upon the male matrix 13. Having fitted the plate over the male matrix in registry the edges of the plate are again folded over the edges of the pattern to secure in place. The convex side of the plate may then be colored for decoration. We have found that the convex copper surface can be darkened by Liver of Sulphur or other chemical which causes rapid oxidation of the copper. Where metals other than copper are employed in the plate, suitable chemicals for causing rapid oxidation should be employed. As soon as the surface has become darkened, the excess chemical should be rinsed to prevent further chemical action.

A shaded effect may be produced by rubbing the contours of the convex surface of the design of the plate with a fine steel wool or abrasive, thereby restoring the brightness of the metal of the contours, while leaving the dark color of oxidation in the troughs or valleys, thus creating a shaded effect. While the abrasive material is applied to the plate, the details of the design of the plate are maintained due to the support of the male matrix upon which the plate is held,- and thus bending or distortion is prevented.

To preserve the finish thus obtained, the usual method of coating with shellac or lacquer should be employed. This coating will prevent further oxidation and will preserve the rich color of the metal.

When mounting, the plate may be left on the pattern, or the plate may be removed from the pattern and mounted on a piece of wood or cardboard cut to the proper size for mounting the metal plate.

By means of this process, a beautiful metal plate having a three dimensional design is achieved, and it may be prepared quickly and easily and readily duplicated. The design obtained will be exact and sharp while at the same time maintaining the appearance of hand-made work. The range of subject matter for patterns is almost without limit and can be prepared economically and easily from plastic, wood, metal or other suitable and readily available material.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. The process for embossing a metal plate which comprises working the metal plate all over a pattern by successively hammering and pressing restricted local areas thereof into a female matrix of the pattern and placing the plate with the reverse of the design over a male matrix of an identical design, the design of the male matrix having been reduced in direct proportion to the thickness of the metal plate, and finishing the surface of the convex design of the metal plate by again hammering and pressing successively over restricted local areas until the entire design has been worked.

2. The process for embossing a metal plate which comprises working the metal plate all over a pattern by pressing restricted local areas of said metal plate into a female matrix of the pattern, and placing the metal plate with the reverse of the design over a male matrix of an identical design, the design of the male matrix having been reduced in direct proportion to the thickness of the metal plate, and finishing the metal plate by pressing the surface of the convex design thereof over the restricted local areas until the entire design has been worked in the metal plate.

sively over, restricted areas. untilethe, entire ,ldsigiuhas' 10 been worked.

- 4 References Cited in the file of this patent ""UNTI'ED"STATES' PATENTS 175,613 Long Apr. 4, 1876 2,133,445 Guerin Oct. 18, 1938 2,377,664 Berger June 5, 1945 2,449,428 Timmons Sept. 14, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Metal Working, by PaulN. Hasluck; 1914 edition, published 1 -by Cass'ell Jt ':Company,*: New -Ybrk, -N;1' Y., pages 363 -369. "(Gopy in Diw 1j4.) 

